There is more to winning a property tax appeal than just finding comparables. You need to make the right adjustments.
The National Taxpayers Union writes that as many as 60% of all homeowners are over-assessed and not in line with their home value. ("How To Fight Property Taxes" 2004 p.1
Consumer Reports has published that property tax records show an error rate of 40% exists in estimating property taxes. (Nov.1992 v57 nil p.723)
... and that was in good times! The facts haven't changed. Assessments are very often carelessly arrived at and errors are rampant.
Comparables are never the same, at least hardly ever. There are differences in size, square footage, busy vs. quiet locations, amenities, one has a new roof and another shows a roof that is at the end of its life-span, garage vs. no garage, deck vs. no deck, etc. There are a number of issues that one should adjust for that can lower one’s property tax.
How do you adjust and what numbers and percentages do you use? That's what our book will make clear. You can best nail down believable adjustments and lower your property tax assessment appeal and win!
